In re G.H.

2022 Ohio 4496
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided December 13, 2022·No. 2022 CA 00026, 2022 CA 00027, 2022 CA 00028·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS

LICKING COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

: JUDGES:

:

: Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., P.J.

: Hon. John W. Wise, J.

: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.

IN RE G.H., D.K., & D.H. :

: Case Nos. 2022 CA 00026 : 2022 CA 00027 : 2022 CA 00028 :

:

: OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case Nos. F2018-0769, F2018-0770, F2018-

0840

JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 13, 2022

APPEARANCES:

For LCDJFS-Appellee: For Father-Appellant:

WILLIAM C. HAYES CAROLYNN E. FITTRO LICKING COUNTY PROSECUTOR 35 S. Park Place, Suite 202 Newark, OH 43055

J. BRANDON PIGG 65 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor For Mother-Appellant:

Newark, OH 43055 ROBIN LYN GREEN

P.O. Box 157

Newark, OH 43058

Licking County, Case Nos. 2022 CA 00026, 2022 CA 00027, 2022 CA 00028 2 Delaney, J.

{¶1} Mother-Appellant, J.H. appeals the April 6, 2022 judgment entry of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division awarding permanent custody of G.H., D.K., and D.H. to the Licking County Department of Job and Family Services- Appellee.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY1 The Children

{¶2} Mother-Appellant, J.H. is the biological mother of G.H., born in January 2005; D.K. born in September 2007; and D.H., born in December 2018.

{¶3} Father, M.S. is the biological father of D.H. Father and Mother are not married. Father filed a separate appeal of the April 6, 2022 judgment entry in In re D.H., 5th Dist. Licking Case No. 2022 CA 00025.

{¶4} The putative fathers of G.H. and D.K. have not appeared in any of the juvenile court or appellate court proceedings.

Complaints for Dependency

{¶5} Since 2017, there had been three investigations by the Licking County Department of Job and Family Services-Appellee (“LCDJFS”) with Mother due to allegations of Mother’s drug use. The cases were investigated and closed. In September 2018, LCDJFS again became involved with Mother and Father based on a series of incidents of domestic violence between the two. Mother was seven months pregnant with

1 In her appellate brief, Mother only included as her Statement of Facts pursuant to App.R. 16(A)(6) the “Court’s Statement (Findings) of Facts is set forth in Appendix Exhibit ‘A’.” Mother attached the April 6, 2022 judgment entry as Exhibit A.

D.H. at the time of the investigation. G.H. witnessed the domestic violence. On October 4, 2018, Father was indicted on one count of Domestic Violence, a fifth-degree felony.

{¶6} On October 22, 2018, Father allegedly attacked Mother and G.H.

intervened. Father choked G.H. resulting in Mother stabbing Father in the back with cuticle scissors. Both Mother and Father were arrested and placed in jail. Father was charged with Intimidation of a Witness, a third-degree felony; Attempted Felonious Assault, a third-degree felony; Domestic Violence, a fifth-degree felony; and Domestic Violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. The Intimidation charge was based on Father’s attempts to persuade Mother not to pursue charges against him.

{¶7} Mother was released from jail. After she was released, Mother refused to file a civil protection order against Father for herself and G.H. She also refused services from LCDJFS. While Father was ordered to have no contact with Mother, Father and Mother continued to communicate with each other. It appeared Mother had no independent source of income and there were concerns about her drug use.

{¶8} On November 9, 2018, LCDJFS filed a motion for a temporary order granting LCDJFS emergency shelter care and custody of G.H. and D.K. LCDJFS simultaneously filed complaints for dependency alleging that G.H. and D.K. were dependent children. The Licking County Juvenile Court granted LCDJFS emergency shelter care of G.H. and D.K. A Guardian ad Litem was appointed for the children.

{¶9} On December 11, 2018, the juvenile court granted an emergency ex parte order of removal for D.H. LCDJFS filed a complaint for dependency for D.H. on December 12, 2018. Pending adjudication, LCDJFS was granted emergency shelter care custody of D.H.

{¶10} An uncontested adjudicatory hearing was held on January 9, 2019, where the juvenile court adjudicated G.H., D.K., and D.H. as dependent children. Mother and Father were present at the adjudicatory hearing and represented by counsel. An uncontested dispositional hearing was held on February 25, 2019, where the children were placed in the temporary custody of LCDJFS.

{¶11} The matter proceeded to a five-day hearing before the Magistrate, starting on January 29, 2021, where the Magistrate took evidence on the following motions:

a. A.S. (“Paternal Great Aunt”) Motion for Legal Custody as to D.H.

b. LCDJFS Motion for Permanent Custody as to D.K. and D.H. filed on October 9, 2020.

c. LCDJFS October 9, 2020 Motion to Modify Disposition as to G.H. to a Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (“PPLA”).

d. Mother’s Motion for Extended Visitation.

e. Mother’s Motion for Return of Legal Custody.

f. LCDJFS March 3, 2021 Motion for Permanent Custody and Motion to Withdraw Motion to Modify Disposition as to G.H.

g. LCDJFS April 20, 2021 Motion to Withdraw Permanent Custody and Motion to Modify Disposition for PPLA as to G.H.

h. LCDJFS May 12, 2021 Motion to Consider Permanent Custody and PPLA as alternative pleadings.

{¶12} The following evidence was adduced at the hearing.

Mother’s Case Plan

{¶13} LCDJFS created a case plan for Mother and Father. There were challenges working with Mother and Father based on Mother and Father’s threats of violence against their case workers and Mother’s failure to communicate with specific case workers.

{¶14} Mother’s case plan objectives were to address the concerns that led to the removal of the three children. She was to complete a substance abuse assessment and follow all recommendations; complete random drug and alcohol screens; do not associate with persons who abuse substances or engage in criminal conduct; participate in counseling services, including domestic violence support groups; and obtain and maintain independent housing and legitimate income sufficient to meet the needs of the children.

{¶15} Mother initially engaged in mental health treatments at the National Youth Advocacy Program in November 2018. She transferred to The Woodlands in January 2019, and then returned to the National Youth program in May 2019. Mother engaged in counseling from May 28, 2019 to June 8, 2020. Mother was diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder, Other Specified Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression. LCDJFS could not monitor Mother’s participation in mental health treatment because Mother refused to sign releases of information. During her mental health treatment, Mother did not fully discuss the breadth of the domestic violence between her and Father. Mother continued to have telephone contact with Father while they were incarcerated, as a result of which the calls were recorded. Mother stated they discussed the children and legal matters. A review of the phone calls showed that Mother and Father stated their love for each other, the desire to have another child, and screaming arguments.

{¶16} Mother completed a substance abuse assessment and received substance abuse education. A random drug screen tested positive for cocaine and opiates. Mother denied her substance abuse or abusing alcohol, despite being observed to be extremely intoxicated. During the recorded phone calls, Mother admitted to purchasing heroin for her mother.

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In re G.H., 2022 Ohio 4496 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

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